Safety and decorative cover for ice skates



O Unlted States Patent 1 1 3,545,778

72] Invento Russell Weidenbncker 3,101,957 8/1963 Snyder 230/1 1.12

32 S. Ave. Box Havel'fol'd, P 21 A I N 3%? 9041 586,441 11/1959 Canada280/1 1.17 E 1 2 5, 1969 545,394 3/1932 Germany 280/1 1.15 Patenwd D.8,197.0 422,633 l/l935 Great Britain 280/1 1.1(ET) Primary Examiner-LeoF riaglia Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith [54] SAFETY AND DECORATIVECOVER FOR ICE An fl and Howson SKATES 17 Claims, 6 Drawing figs. nABSTRACT: A decorative safety cover is provided to span the n A63: 3/00apertures between the runner and the shoe of a figure skate to [50]Field ofSearch 280/] 1.12- prevent a skater from inadvertently insertingthe runner of one U81 11-1, 1 137031138; skate in the apertures of theother skate while skating. In addi- 1074/14- tion, the cover has adownwardly and rearwardly sloping portion which overlies the runnerextension below the heel of the [56] References cited shoe to preventthe skater from inadvertently stepping thereon UNITED STATES PATENTS andpossibly falling while skating. If desired, the cover may 1,771,7557/1930 Heath 280]] 1.17 carry decorative matter such as bright metal toprovide a 2,197,170 4/1940 Anderson 280/1 1.12 unique and pleasingappearance for the skate.

PATENTED nu: 8 19m III/Ill INVENTOR: RUSSELL A. WEIDENBACKER ATTYS.

SAFETY AND DECORATIVE COVER FOR ICE SKATES The present invention relates.to ice skates, and more particularly, the present invention relates tomeans for covering the apertures between the runner and the shoe of afigure skate and for covering the rearward extension of the runner.

At present, a conventional figure skate has a runner secured to the shoeof the skate by a series of stanchions which define apertures'betweentherunner' and the shoe. A portion of the runner extends a slightdistance rearwardly of the rearmost stanchion to assist a skater tomaintain his balance when skating in an erect or slightlybackward-leaning position. When the skater is performing intricatemaneuvers such as a Mohawk," Choctaw, Spread-Eagle" or the like, theremay be a tendency for the skater to entangle his skates, for example byinadvertently inserting the runner extension of one skate into theapertures of the other skate or by inadvertently stepping on the runnerextension of the other skate. As a result, the skater may lose hisbalance and fall, possibly seriously injuring himself.

In order to reduce this hazard as much as possible, the runnerextensions on some figure skates are short. A short runner extensioncreates other problems however. For example, with a short extension askater may not as easily maintain his balance while skating erectly orwhile leaning slightly backward, and if he should lose his balance andfall while leaning backward, the possibility of his inflicting seriousinjury is further increased.

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide novel' means for covering the apertures between theshoe and runner of a figure skate to prevent a skater from entanglinghis skates and falling while performing intricate maneuvers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide cover meanswhich overlies the runner extension of a figure skate to prevent askater from inadvertently stepping thereon with his other skate whileskating.

As a further object, the present invention provides a safety cover whichmay carry decorative matter thereon to produce a unique and pleasingappearance for a figure skate.

As an additional object, the present invention provides improved meansfor securing a safety cover between the shoe and runner of a figureskate to present a solid, continuous surface therebetween for deflectinga skate runner which may inadvertently contact the cover while skating.

More specifically, in the present invention a shoe skate is providedwith safety and decorative cover means comprising a pair of elongatedplanar members which span across the apertures between the runner andthe bottom of the shoe and which have a rearward terminal edge whichslopes rearwardly and downwardly toward the runner extension behind theheel of the shoe. Spacer means conforming to the shape of the aperturesand substantially equal to the width of the runner is disposed in theapertures and between the members, and the members and spacer means areconnected together by means of therethrough and which secure them inplace on the skate. If desired, the cover means may be metal or may beplastic and may have a thin metal outer surface, or the cover means maybe translucent plastic and a thin metal sheet may be disposed betweenthe members and the spacer means to provide a decorative appearance tothe skate.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention should become apparent from the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a figure skate having cover meansembodying the present invention, the cover means being partially brokenaway to illustrate a stanchion connecting the runner to the sole of theshoe which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the skate illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG-3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 andillustrating means for mounting the cover means on the skate;

complementary threaded members which pass.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views, similar to FIG. 3, of modified covermeans in accordance with the present invention; and I FIG. 6 is aperspective view of a modified spacer adapted to overlie the runnerextension on the skate and having a metallic guard extending along itsupper edge.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. I aconventional figure skate 10'having a hollow-ground runner l l securedto a shoe 12 by a series of stanchions 13,13 which define asubstantially elliptically'shaped aperture 14a and an irregular-shapedaperture Mb between the runner l1 and the bottom of the shoe 12. As maybe seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stanchions l3, 13 are of substantially thesame thickness as the runner l1 and they are secured to the shoe 12 byintegral plates 15 and 16, the plate 15 being secured to the sole 17 ofthe shoe 12 and the plate-l6 being secured to the heel 18 thereof. Inaddition, the runner 11 has a series of teeth 19,19 at its forward end,and the runner has an extension or spur 20 projecting rearwardly pastthe heel 18.

As noted above, there may bea tendency for a skater to inadvertentlyinsert the spur of one skate into one of the apertures in the otherskate, or to inadvertently step on the spur of one skate with the otherskate while performing intricate maneuvers on the ice.-This may causethe skater to lose .his balance and fall, possibly causing himseriousinjury. Therefore, in accordance with the primary object of the presentinvention, means is provided for use with figure skates to reduce someof the dangers associated'with figure skating.

In accordance with the primary object of the present invention, some ofthe hazards associated with figure skating may be reduced when theapertures between the runner and the shoe of a figure skate are coveredto form a continuous surface therebetween. To this end, a pair ofelongated members or webs 25a and 25b are disposed along oppositeuppersides of the runner 11, the web 25:; engaging the outside margin lla ofthe runner 11 and the web 25b engaging the inside margin 11b of therunner 11. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the webs are each shaped to coversubstantially the entire area of the apertures, having triangular shapedportions 260 and 26b respectively which project upwardly into the archof the shoe 12.

In order to provide a decorative appearance for the skate without addingany substantial weight thereto, the webs 25a and 25b are of thinlightweight material, preferably plastic. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and3, each web 25a and 25b has an upper edge 24a and 24b respectively whichterminates a slight distance below the bottom of the sole and heelstanchion plates 15 and 16 to provide a slight clearance therebetween.In this manner, the webs may be mounted in close parallel relationagainst the stanchions and the runner without the outwardly flaringupper portions of the stanchions interfering with their mounting. Ifdesired however, the upper edges 24a and 24b may each have a localchamfer or a local cutout adjacent each stanchion in the event that theoutward flaring portions thereof should require additional clearance inorder to properly mount the webs 25a and 25b.

Figure skates may tend to accumulate ice chips or snow in use. In orderto reduce this tendency as much as possible, the webs 25a and 25b eachhave a chamfered surface 27a and 27b which tapers inwardly toward therunner 11. Although in the illustrated embodiment the chamfered surfaces270 and 27b extend across the full width of their respective webs 25aand 25b, it should be apparent that the surfaces need not extend acrossthe full width of the webs to perform this function, it being sufficientthat the chamfered surfaces extend across a substantial portion of thewidth of the webs. With this arrangement, sharp corners are avoidedwhich may tend to accumulate ice chips. Furthermore, the chamferedsurfaces provide a handsome appearance for the skate.

As noted heretofore, a skater may tend to tripwhen the runner of oneskate is inadvertently placed on the rear runner extension of his otherskate. In accordance with the present invention, means is provided toobviate this situation. To this end, each web 250 and 25b has a portion280 and 28b respectively which extends rearwardly past the heelstanchion 13 along the runner extension 20 and a camming member orspacer 32 of metal or durable plastic construction is disposedtherebetween to overlie the extension 20. As may be seen in FIG. 1, eachportion 28a and 28b has an edge 29a and 29b respectively and the cammingspacer 32 has an edge 320 which each slope rearwardly and downwardlytoward the extension 20. In addition, the chamfered surfaces 270 and27!) extend around the terminus of each web and upwardly toward the heelstanchion to expose the camming edge 32a on the spacer 32. Thus, shoulda skater inadvertently tend to place the runner of one skate on theextension of the other skate, the camming edge 32a cooperates to cam therunner rearwardly past the terminus of the extension 20. In this manner,the tendency for a skater to trip and fall is reduced.

Figure skates are subject to shocks in use. Therefore, the covering websmust be securely fastened to the skates to ensure that they do notdisengage the skates while skating and to ensure that they are able towithstand lateral impact from a misplaced runner. To this end, means isprovided to securely mount the webs 25a and 25b on each skate. As anymay be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, lateral support for the webs 25a and 25bis provided by means of spacers 30 and 31 disposed in the apertures 14aand 14b between the runner 11 and the shoe l2, and lateral support forthe web portions 28a and 28b behind the heel stanchion is provided bymeans of the camming spacer 32. In the present instance, the spacers 30and 31 are shaped to conform substantially to the configuration of theapertures 14a and 14b, the rear spacer 32 being shaped to conform to thecurvature of the downwardly and rearwardly sloping edges 29a and 29b ofthe webs to fit flush therewith when mounted against the heel stanchionl3 and the runner extension 20. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the spacermeans are substantially equal in thickness to the thickness of therunner 11. Thus, the webs 25a and 25b may be disposed in close parallelrelation to form a narrow cross-sectional profile along the runner tolend a sleek appearance to each skate.

The webs 25a and 25b are securely mounted on each skate in a mannerwhich eliminates the possibility of their catching on a skate runner oron articles of clothing. To this end, the webs are mounted by means offasteners which, in the present instance, include a series of bolts 35,36 and 37 extending transversely through the webs 25a and 25b incounterbored holes 38, 39 and 40 respectively to dispose the bolts belowthe plane of the outer surface of the webs. As may be seen in FIG. 3,each bolt, for example the bolt 36, has an enlarged flat head 36a and athreaded shank 36b which threadedly engages an internally threadedferrule 46 having a head 46a nested in its as sociated counterbored holeand a body 46b engaging the shank 36b. Thus, when each bolt is rotatedclockwise (FIG. 1) the members are clamped onto the skate in a securemanner, and when each bolt is rotated counterclockwise the members maybe removed from the skate. It should be noted that for webs which arenarrow in width, for example from about .020 inch to about l/32 inch inthickness, it is desirable to employ a bolt and nut having slightlyconvex outer surfaces. In addition, if desired, the shank 36b may extendslightly past the head 46a of the ferrule 46 and may be peened toprevent it from loosening in use and to thereby permanently secure thewebs to each skate.

As noted above, thecover means may possess a decorative function inaddition to its function primarily as a safety device. For this'purpose,the webs 251 and 25b are preferably of clear plastic construction;however, they may also be colored plastic or they may have decorativematter applied thereto by printing, etching, or the like. If desired, abright metallic appearance may be provided for the cover means. To thisend, sheets of thin metal or foil 140a and l40b (FIG. 4) may be securedto the outer surface of each web 125a and 12512 by suitable adhesiveafter the webs are mounted on a runner 111. As may be seen in FIG. 4 thefoil 140a and 14% overlies the fasteners 136 which secure-the webstogether and thereby obscures the fasteners 136st) that the means bywhich the webs are secured to the skate may not be readily perceived byan observer.

In a modified embodiment of the present invention, decorative covermeans which is resistant to damage may be provided. For'this purpose, apair of metallic foils 240a and 24% (FIG. 5) are disposed on the insidesurface of a pair of transparent, plastic webs 225a and 2251; betweenthe webs and a spacer 231. With this structure, the foils are secured inposition by a clamping action which is effected upon tightening a bolt236 when mounting the webs 225a and 225b to the runner 211. Thetransparency of the webs 225a and 22512 permits the foils 240a and 24012to reflect light while simultane-:

ously protecting the foil against being damaged or dislodged.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a modified spacer 337which is resistant to damage and wear may be provided for mountingbetween the rearwardly extending portions 28a and 28b of the webs 25aand 25b illustrated in FIG. 1. As may be seen in FIG. 6, the spacer 337has a metallic, preferably stainless steel guard 350 which extends alongits upper edge 329a, the guard 350 having a U-shaped cross section whichgrips the spacer 337 between its legs to fasten it to the body of thespacer. A locking tab is provided at 352 to engage in a slotted recess353 in the spacer to prevent rearward dislodgement of the guard in use.In addition, the spacer has a through bore 338 for receiving a suitablefastener to mount the spacer on the skate. Thus, with this arrangement,the metallic guard 350 protects the spacer 337 from being damaged by amisplaced skate runner by providing a strong, metallic deflectingsurface above the runner extension.

In view of the foregoing, it should now be apparent that a safety anddecorative cover has now been provided for figure skates to reduce someof the dangers associated with figure skating while providing a pleasingappearance for the skates.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedin detail, various modifications, alterations or changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a shoe skate having a runner spaced from the shoe and aplurality of stanchions on the runner secured to the shoe to define atleast one shaped aperture therebetween, cover means for spanning acrossat least a substantial portion of said aperture, said cover meanscomprising two planar members disposed on opposite outer sides of saidstanchions and runner and extending along at least a portion of theupper marginal sides of said runner adjacent said aperture, meansdisposed intermediate said members to space said members apart adistance substantially equal to the width of said runner, and meansextending through said members and spacing means to connect said memberstogether, so that when skating, the cover means may prevent a skaterfrom inadvertently catching the runner of one skate in the aperture inthe other skate to thereby reduce the possibility of his falling.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a thin metallic sheetcarried by at least one of said planar members.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said metallic sheet is bondedto the outer surface of said planar member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cover means istranslucent and said metallic sheet is disposed between said spacingmeans and said planar member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said connectingmeans includescomplementary threaded headed elements respectively engaging the membersand threadedly engaged to retain said members in place.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the threaded elements comprisea bolt and an internally threaded member, the planar member engagingsaid bolt being counterbored to dispose the head of the bolt below theplane of its surface and said planar member engaging said internallythreaded member being counterbored to dispose said threaded member belowthe plane of its surface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said internally threadedmember comprises a ferrule having a head engaging in said counterboreand a body portion threaded onto said bolt and projecting from said headtoward said engaging member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said members has alower margin disposed above the bottom of the runner and below theaperture and said margin has a chamfered surface tapering inwardly'anddownwardly toward the runner.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said stanchions issecured to the sole of said shoe and another of said stanchions issecured to the heel of said shoe, said runner extending rearwardly ofsaid heel stanchion, the improvement wherein said cover members extendrearwardly of said heel stanchion and have terminal edges slopingrearwardly and downwardly from said heel toward said runner.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said shaped aperture extendsbetween said sole and heel stanchions and said runner has a stanchiondisposed forwardly of said sole stanchion to form therebetween anothershaped aperture, the improvement wherein said spacing means is disposedin the plane of said runner in each aperture and conforms substantiallyto the shape of the aperture to thereby provide additional lateralsupport for the cover members. 7

11. Apparatus according to. claim 9 wherein said spacing means includesa portion disposed between said cover members behind said heelstanchion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said spacing means behindsaid heel stanchion has an edge sloping rearwardly and downwardly fromsaid heel toward said runner and includes a metallic guard extendingalong said edge.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said skate has a plurality ofapertures between said shoe and said runner and said spacing means isdisposed in each aperture and is substantially equal in width to thewidth of the runner to thereby permit the cover members to engageagainst said upper marginal sides of said runner.

14. For use with a shoe skate having a runner secured by a plurality ofstanchions to. its sole and heel respectively, the runner having anextension which projects rearwardly of the heel stanchion, theimprovement comprising cam means over lying said extension and having anedge sloping rearwardly and downwardly toward the terminus of saidextension from said heel stanchion, said cam means completely fillingthe space between the stanchion, the extension and the sloping edge sothat in the event that a skater should tend to place the runner of oneskate on the extension of his other skate, the cam means cooperates tocam the runner rearwardly past the extension of the other skate tothereby reduce the tendency for the skater to fall.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 including means to mount said cammeans on said runner, said mounting means comprising: a pair of planarmembers disposed on opposite outer sides thereof and extending forwardlyalong said runner and engaging said stanchions, and fastener meansextending through said cam means and said members overlying saidextension and through said members intermediate said stanchions, so thatthe cam means is securely mounted on the 'runner extension.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said members terminate aspaced distance from the edge of said cam means to expose said edge tothereby preventthe runner of the other skate from engaging the mountingmembers and damaging them when the skater tends to place the other skaterunner on the runner extension.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said edge of said cam meansis metallic.

